香火 (xiāng huǒ) — burning incense (as an offering in temples or ancestral halls); incense offerings / temple donations (often in the form of money); (figurative) continuation of the family line

Definition

Refers both to incense burning at temples and, figuratively, to the continuation of the family line (e.g. 延续香火). The 'family line' sense is the distinctive one — not just 'incense'.

noun
burning incense (as an offering in temples or ancestral halls)incense offerings / temple donations (often in the form of money)(figurative) continuation of the family line

Examples

  • 香火，。
    Zhè zuò sì miào de xiāng huǒ hěn wàng, měi tiān dōu yǒu hěn duō rén lái shāo xiāng.
    This temple's incense is very strong — many people come to burn incense every day.
  • 香火。
    xiāng huǒ Qián shì sì miào zhòng yào de shōu rù lái yuán.
    Incense money is an important source of income for the temple.
  • ，香火。
    Tā shēng le yí gè ér zi, zhōng yú kě yǐ yán xù xiāng huǒ le.
    He had a son, and finally can continue the family line.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

香xiāngincense
火huǒfire

香 (incense) and 火 (fire) stand together for burning incense offerings.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

香's early form paired 黍 (glutinous millet) with 口 (mouth), perhaps showing millet drink being taken in or offered.

Open 香 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

火 is a simple drawing of a fire, with flames shown rising upward.

Open 火 →

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